Hydraulic press

ABSTRACT

A hydraulic press including a frame having a base and a pair of vertical columns which extend upwardly from the base, and a cross head is mounted for vertical movement on the columns. Both the base and the columns are hollow and provide a reservoir for hydraulic fluid. The workpiece is supported on a table which is movable on the base from a loading position to a position beneath the cross head. The cross head carries a cylinder unit and the vertical position of the crosshead can be varied with respect to the columns by a cam-actuated locking unit. By releasing the locking unit and bearing the piston rod of the cylinder unit against a fixed object, the cylinder and cross head can be raised and lowered to the desired height with respect to the supporting columns.

United States Patent Ireland HYDRAULIC PRESS Glen V. Ireland, 6605 W. Bennett Avenue, Milwaukee, Wis. 53219 Nov. 9, 1970 Inventor:

Filed:

Appl. No.:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,168,034 2/ 1965 McClocklin et al ..100/257 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,284,048 1/1962 France ..100/257 [451 July 18, 1972 Primary Examiner-Andrew R. J uhasz Assistant Examiner-Michael Koczo, Jr. Attorney-Andrus, Sceales, Starke & Sawall ABSTRACT A hydraulic press including a frame having a base and a pair of vertical columns which extend upwardly from the base, and a cross head is mounted for vertical movement on the columns. Both the base and the columns are hollow and provide a reservoir for hydraulic fluid. The workpiece is supported on a table which is movable on the base from a loading position to a position beneath the cross head. The cross head carries a cylinder unit and the vertical position of the crosshead can be varied with respect to the columns by a cam-actuated locking unit. By releasing the locking unit and bearing the piston rod of the cylinder unit against a fixed object, the cylinder and cross head can be raised and lowered to the desired height with respect to the supporting columns.

8 Claim, 13 Drawing Figures Z9 l z. 53 I I7 i "I o 8 Patented July 18, 1972 3 Sheets-Sheet l Illll 9/ 9 Fig. 7

INVENTOR. Glen V Ireland Attorneys Patented July 18, 1972 3,676,915

3 Sheets-Sheet Z INVENTOR. Glen V Ireland BY r '7 /41M VM Attorneys Patented July 18, 1972 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Glcz n Ireland Attorneys HYDRAULIC PRESS This invention relates to a press and more particularly to a hydraulically operated press.

In the maintenance of diesel locomotive engines it is necessary to periodically remove the metal cylinder liners from the cylinder block due to wear or in order to remove carbon, products of corrosion and oil residue from the bore and the ports in the block. The cylinder liners are pressed in the block and held therein by a bolted head ring. To insert the cylinder liners, the block is heated and the cold liners are inserted into the heated block and held at a pressure of about 20 tsi to compress the seals while the head rings are tightened down. To remove the cylinder liner, an adapter is employed which engages the lower end of the cylinder liner and draws the liner from the block, or alternately, with the new style cylinder blocks, the liner and cylinder head are forced through the block. In either case, substantial pressure is required to break the cylinder liner loose from the block.

Hydraulic presses are normally utilized for the operations of inserting and removing the cylinder liners from diesel cylinder blocks, and presses of this type must not only develop substantial pressure, but should have an adjustable bed in order to minimize the piston stroke of the cylinder during both insertion and removal of the liners.

The present invention is directed to an improved hydraulic press which includes a generally rectangular frame composed of a hollow base and a pair of hollow vertical columns that extend upwardly from the base. Both the interior of the base and the interior of the vertical columns serve as a reservoir through which the hydraulic fluid is circulated and cooled. A cross head is adapted to move vertically on the vertical columns of the frame and the cross head carries a hydraulic cylinder unit which includes a ram that extends downwardly toward the base.

The workpiece, such as a cylinder block, is supported on a table which is mounted for movement on the base. The table is supported on a series of spring-loaded ball bearings which enable the table and the workpiece to be readily moved by a hydraulic cylinder from a loading position to a position aligned beneath the ram. The ball bearings are spring loaded to an extent that the table will be normally spaced above the base. When a downward force is applied to the workpiece by the ram, the springs are compressed so that the table will then bear firmly against the base to prevent relative movement therebetween.

To lock the cross head at the desired vertical location, the inner surface of each column is provided with a series of vertically spaced recesses and a locking member or lug mounted at each end of the cross head is adapted to engage one of the recesses to lock the cross head at any given height. The locking members are actuated by an eccentric mechanism which is operated by the operator though a hand crank, or by mechanical or hydraulic means.

To adjust the vertical height of the cross head, the ram or piston rod of the cylinder is extended and blocked or brought into engagement with a fixed object. By continuing the introduction of fluid into the upper end of the cylinder, the cylinder and the unlocked cross head will move upwardly relative to the ram to thereby elevate the cross head as desired. Conversely, by supplying fluid to the opposite end of the cylinder, the cross head and cylinder will move downwardly with respect to the ram. With the cross head in the desired position, the locking lugs can then be moved outwardly into engagement with the recesses to lock the cross head and cylinder at that position.

The construction of the invention provides a simple and ex pedient manner of adjusting the height between the lower bed or base, and the cross head. This adjustment can be performed without the aid of any auxilliary tools or equipment. By virtue of this adjustment, the press is able to accommodate work pieces of varying heights while maintaining the stroke of the ram at a minimum.

The present construction has particular use in high pressure applications in the neighborhood of 75 tsi, such as diesel engine maintainance, and includes a novel loading system which enables a heavy workpiece to be readily moved into position beneath the cross head on a movable table that is automatically locked against movement by the application of force on the workpiece. The use of the table eliminates undue manual handling of heavy workpieces and permits the workpiece to be readily moved to a position outside of the press frame where the workpiece can be inspected or auxiliary working operations can be performed.

As the base and vertical columns serve as a reservoir for hydraulic fluid no auxiliary reservoir is required which provides a more compact unit that can be utilized in locations where space is at a premium. Moreover, the volume of the reservoir is substantially greater than the volume of fluid required for operation of the hydraulic cylinder and this increases the circulation of the fluid and cools the same.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of the following description.

The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the press construction of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the press with parts broken away in section;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section taken along line 3-3 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation with parts broken away showing the mechanism for locking the cross head to the vertical columns of the frame, with the locking lug shown in the locked position;

FIG. 5 is a section taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a section taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section showing the manner in which the table is mounted on the base plate;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the locking lug and eccentric;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section showing the locking lug in an unlocked position;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the frame with parts broken away in section;

FIG. 11 is a front elevation of a stripper utilized when stripping a liner from a cylinder block;

FIG. 12 is a section taken along line l212 of FIG. 11, and

F [G 13 is a top view of the stripper.

The drawings illustrate a hydraulic press including a frame 1 composed of a generally U-shaped base 2, and apair of vertical columns 3 which extend vertically from the base. The upper ends of the columns 3 are connected together by a top plate 4, which serves to maintain the spacing between the columns.

The base 2 and columns 3 are hollow and the interior of the base and columns provides a reservoir 5 for hydraulic fluid. The volume of the reservoir 5 is substantially greater than the volume of hydraulic fluid necessary to operate the hydraulic equipment associated with the press, with the result that the circulation of the fluid in the reservoir is increased and this acts to cool the fluid.

The central portion of the U-shaped base defines a recess 6 and a base plate 7 extends across the recess and connects the legs of the U-shaped base. The base 2 and columns 3 are preferably fabricated from welded plates.

The workpiece 8 is supported on a table 9 that is movable in a reciprocating path within the recess 6 between a loading position and a working position. As shown in FIG. 1, the workpiece 8 is a cylinder jacket for a diesel engine in which a cylinder liner 10 projects outwardly of the upper end of the jacket. When the engine is undergoing repair it is necessary to renew the cylinder liner and the press is utilized in this instance to pull the liner from the cylinder jacket or block. However, it is contemplated that the press of the invention can be used in any other application where a hydraulic press normally has use, and particularly those applications where high pressures are required.

To guide the table 9 in reciprocating movement, two rows of ball bearings 11 are located within recesses 12 formed in the bottom surface of the table 9 and each row of ball bearings is adapted to ride within a groove or track 13 formed in the upper surface of the base plate 7. As best illustrated in FIG. 7, each ball 11 is urged downwardly by a spring 14, one end of which bears against the respective ball and the upper end of which is received within a recess in a cap 15 bolted to the upper surface of the table 9. Under normal conditions, with the workpiece 8 on the table, the force of the springs 14 will act to bias the table 9 out of contact with the base plate 7, so that the table 9 and workpiece 8 can be moved in a reciprocating path on the base 2 with minimum frictional resistance. However, when a substantial force is applied to the workpiece, the additional force will compress the springs 14 so that the lower surface of the table 9 will engage the base plate 7 to thereby prevent movement of the table with respect to the base plate. On release of the force at the completion of the pressing operation, the springs 14 will again urge the table 9 out of contact with the base plate 7. This construction provides an automatic locking of the guide mechanism on the application of the pressing force and an automatic release of the locking on withdrawal of the force.

The table 9 is adapted to be moved in the reciprocating path by a hydraulic cylinder 16 which is mounted within a housing 17 attached to the rear end of the base 2. A piston is slidable within the cylinder 16 and carries a piston rod 18 that extends outwardly within a tube 19 that is welded across the interior of base 2. As the base 2 is hollow and provides a reservoir for the hydraulic fluid, the tube 19 provides a passage for the piston rod 18 and yet maintains the sealed characteristics of the hollow base 2.

The outer end of the piston rod 18 is connected to an upstanding lug 20 secured to the inner end of the table 9. With this construction, extension or retraction of the piston rod 18 will move the table 9 and the workpiece 8 between a loading position and a working position in which the workpiece is in alignment with the vertical columns 3. A motor-pump unit 21 for the hydraulic system is mounted on the upper surface of the housing 17 and a hydraulic line 22 extends from the reservoir 5 to the suction side of the pump, while lines 23 connect the ends of the cylinder 16 through valve control units, not shown, to the discharge side of the pump.

The vertical columns 3 are generally box-shaped and are reinforced by central stiffening plates 24. The columns 3 are hollow and are connected at their lower ends to the interior of the hollow base 2 so that both the base and the vertical columns 3 provide the reservoir 5 for the hydraulic fluid for the hydraulic system. A suitable filler pipe 25 is connected to the upper portion of one of the columns 3 and serves as an inlet for introducing the fluid into the reservoir.

The upper plate 4 is connected to the upper ends of the vertical columns by a series of bolts 26 which are threaded into anchor plates 27 welded within the upper ends of the columns 3. With this construction, the base 2, vertical columns 3 and plate 4, provide a generally rectangular frame with the columns 3 and the base 2 being hollow and serving as a reservoir for hydraulic fluid.

A cross head 28 carries a hydraulic cylinder unit 29 which is adapted to perform a working operation on the workpiece 8 supported on the table 9. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cross head 28 includes a pair of spaced end plates 30 which are connected by two pair of cross plates 31. As shown in FIG. 5, the inner surface of plates 30 are provided with recesses which receive the corresponding ends of the cross plates 31, and bolts 32 extend though openings in the plate 30 and are threaded within the ends of the cross plates to firmly secure the cross plates to the plates 30.

To permit the cross head 28 to move vertically with respect to the columns 3 to thereby vary the distance between the lower bed or table 9 and the cross head, a series of balls 33 are mounted within recesses 34 formed in shoulders 35 at each end of plates 30. The balls 33 are adapted to ride in tracks 36 on the inner surface of column 3, and the balls are urged outwardly toward the tracks 36 by springs 37. The balls 33 thus provide for smooth movement of the cross head 28 with respect to the vertical columns 3. Other guide members, such as flathead buttons can be substituted for the balls 33.

The cross head 28 is adapted to be locked into position with respect to the vertical columns 3 by a locking mechanism best illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. The locking mechanism includes a pair of locking members 38, each of which is slidable within the space or guideway between corresponding cross plates 31 and is adapted to be received within one of a series of vertically spaced recesses 39 formed in a rack or bar 40 attached to the inner wall of vertical column 3 by bolts 41. By engagement of the locking members 38 with the recesses 39, the position of the cross head 28 will be fixed with respect to the columns 3. By releasing engagement of the locking members 38 with the recesses 39, the cross head 28 can then be moved vertically as desired with respect to the columns 3.

Each of the locking members 38 comprises an outer projection or nose 44 which is received within the recesses 39 and a pair of side plates 45 are formed integrally with nose 44 and extend inwardly in spaced relation from the nose. The outer ends of side plates 45 are connected together by a cross bar 46. As illustrated in FIG. 4, an eccentric 47 is mounted in the space between the nose 44 and the cross bar 46. The eccentric 47 is secured to shaft 48 by a pair ofset screws 49 and the ends of the shaft 48 extend through slots 50 in the side plates 45 and through openings in the plates 30. One end of the shaft 48 receives a nut 51, while the opposite end of the shaft is pivoted with a head and a handle 52 is threaded within an opening in the head and is located outwardly of the front plate 30.

By rotating the handle in one direction, the enlarged portion of the eccentric 47 will engage the rear surface of the nose 44 to move the nose 44 outwardly into the recess 39 to provide a lock between the cross head 28 and the columns 3, By rotating the handle 52 in the opposite direction, the enlarged portion of the eccentric will engage the cross bar 46 to move the locking member in the opposite direction and release the nose 44 from the recess 39 to thereby permit the cross head to be moved vertically with respect to the vertical columns 3.

The hydraulic cylinder unit 29 includes a cylinder 53, and heads 54 enclose the upper and lower ends of the cylinder. The cylinder 53 is connected to the cross head 28 and thereby moves vertically with the cross head. To accommodate this vertical movement, the plate 4 is provided with an opening 55 which receives the cylinder 53.

The lower head 54 is supported on a plate 56 and a series of tie rods 57 serve to connect the heads 54 together as well as connecting the lower head to the plate 56. More specifically, the upper ends of the tie rods 57 extend through openings in the upper head 54 and receive nuts 58, while the lower ends of the tie rods extend through aligned openings in the lower head 54 and plate 56 and receive nuts 59. The plate 56 is connected to the end plates 30 of cross head 28 by a series of bolts 60. With this construction, the cylinder unit 29 is secured to the cross head 28 so that these members can be moved in unison with respect to the vertical columns 3.

A piston is mounted for sliding movement within the cylinder 53 and carries a piston rod 61 which extends downwardly from the cylinder. The lower end of the piston rod 61 is provided with a threaded end 62 to which can be attached a suitable adapter for use in removing or inserting the cylinder liners.

Hydraulic fluid is supplied to the ends of cylinder 53 through lines 63 which are connected through a valve control unit to the discharge side of the pump.

To move the cross head 28 and hydraulic cylinder unit 29 with respect to the vertical columns 3, the piston rod 61 is initially extended until it engages a fixed object supported on the table 9. With the piston rod firmly engaged with the fixed object, the locking members 38 are then released by rotating the handles or cranks 52. By introducing hydraulic fluid into the upper end of the cylinder 53 the cylinder will then move upwardly relative to the fixed piston rod or ram, carrying the cross head 28 with it. When the cross head has been elevated to the desired location, the locking members 38 are then moved to the locking position through rotation of the handles 52.

If it is desired to lower the cross head 28 and cylinder unit 29, hydraulic fluid is introduced into the lower end of cylinder 53 and the cross head and cylinder unit will move downwardly and fluid will be displaced from the upper end of the cylinder 53.

To aid in aligning the locking members 38 with the recesses 39, an indicator strip 64 is applied to the front surface of each of the vertical columns 3. The strips 64 include a series of vertically spaced pointers or indicators 65 each of which is located in alignment with the vertical midpoint of one of the recesses 39. In addition, each end of the front plate 30 is provided with a mark 66 which is located in alignment with the vertical midpoint of the locking members 38. Thus, by aligning the mark 66 with one of the indicators 65 on strip 64 the locking members will be aligned with one of the recesses. Thus, during raising and lowering of the cross head 28, the cross head is moved until the mark 66 is in alignment with one of the indicators 65 and then the locking members 38 can be moved to the engaged position.

As shown in FIG. 1, the workpiece 8 is illustrated as a cylinder jacket or block and the liner has been inserted within the cylinder jacket through operation of the cylinder unit 29. In this case an adapter 67 is threaded on the lower end of the piston rod 61 and engages a plate, not shown, supported on the upper end of the cylinder liner 10 to force the liner downwardly into the cylinder jacket. With the liner being held under substantial pressure, in the range of 20 tsi, the cylinder head ring can then be bolted to the cylinder jacket or block to complete the assembly. In this particular operation, the cross head 28 would be at a lower position due to the fact that the cylinder jacket is mounted directly on the table 9.

FIGS. 1l-l3 illustrate an adaptor 68 which can be used for stripping the liners 10 from a different type of cylinder jacket. The stripper 68 is adapted to rest on the table 9 and the cylinder jacket is mounted thereon. The stripper 68 includes a generally U-shaped body 69 and a top ring 70 is welded to the upper edge of the body. The ring 70 is provided with an internal shoulder 71 and the lower end of the cylinder jacket rests on the shoulder. A suitable tool, not shown, can be attached to the lower end of the piston rod 61 and on downward movement of the piston rod, the tool will engage the upper end of the liner and push the liner downwardly through the jacket to eject the same into the curved body 69. As the cylinder jacket in this case is mounted on the stripper 68, the cross head 28 would normally be located in an upper position in order to accommodate the increased height of the workpiece and stripper 68.

The present invention provides an improved hydraulic press construction in which the cross head and hydraulic cylinder can be readily adjusted in height to vary the distance between the lower bed and the cross head. This adjustment can be done without the need of auxiliary tools or equipment and enables a shorter stroke cylinder to be utilized, thereby decreasing the overall height of the press.

As the interior of the frame serves as a reservoir for hydrau- I claim: 1. A press construction, comprising a frame member including a lower bed to support a workpiece. a cross head member mounted for vertical movement on the frame member and located above the lower bed, a cylinder unit mounted on the cross head member and adapted to perform a working operation on the workpiece supported on the lower bed, locking means for locking the cross head member to the frame member, said locking means including a series of vertically spaced recesses on one of said members and a movable locking element mounted for movement on the other of said members, said locking element being movable between an unlocked position and a locked position in which the locking element is engaged with one of said recesses, eccentric means operably connected to the locking element for moving the locking element between the locked and unlocked positions, and operating means located on the other of said members for operating said eccentric means.

2. The press construction of claim 1, wherein said frame member includes a pair of vertical columns and a series of said recesses are provided on each of said columns, said locking means comprises a pair of locking elements mounted for movement on said cross head member, each of said locking elements being selectively engageable with one of said series of recesses.

3. The press construction of claim 2, and including guide means for guiding each locking element in sliding movement on said cross head member.

4. The press construction of claim 3, wherein said eccentric means includes an eccentric and a shaft carrying said eccentric and journalled in said cross head member, said operating means comprising a handle connected to said shaft.

5. The press construction of claim 2, wherein said locking element is provided with an opening disposed transverse to the direction of movement of said element and said eccentric means is disposed within the opening, rotation of said eccentric means in one direction acting to move said locking element into engagement with one of said recesses and rotation of said eccentric means in the opposite direction acting to move the locking means to the unlocked position.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, and including indicator means for indicating alignment of said locking element with said recesses.

7. The press construction of claim 6, wherein said indicator means includes a series of indicator members located on one of said vertical columns in alignment with said recesses and said indicator means includes a marker located on said cross head member in alignment with said locking element.

8. The press construction of claim 1, wherein said cylinder means includes a hydraulic cylinder mounted on the cross head member and a piston member slidably mounted within each cylinder. 

1. A press construction, comprising a frame member including a lower bed to support a workpiece, a cross head member mounted for vertical movement on the frame member and located above the lower bed, a cylinder unit mounted on the cross head member and adapted to perform a working operation on the workpiece supported on the lower bed, locking means for locking the cross head member to the frame member, said locking means including a series of vertically spaced recesses on one of said members and a movable locking element mounted for movement on the other of said members, said locking element being movable between an unlocked position and a locked position in which the locking element is engaged with one of said recesses, eccentric means operably connected to the locking element for moving the locking element between the locked and unlocked positions, and operating means located on the other of said members for operating said eccentric means.
 2. The press construction of claim 1, wherein said frame member includes a pair of vertical columns and a series of said recesses are provided on each of said columns, said locking means comprises a pair of locking elements mounted for movement on said cross head member, each of said locking elements being selectively engageable with one of said series of recesses.
 3. The press construction of claim 2, and including guide means for guiding each locking element in sliding movement on said cross head member.
 4. The press construction of claim 3, wherein said eccentric means includes an eccentric and a shaft carrying said eccentric and journalled in said cross head member, said operating means comprising a handle connected to said shaft.
 5. The press construction of claim 2, wherein said locking element is provided with an opening disposed transverse to the direction of movement of said element and said eccentric means is disposed within the opening, rotation of said eccentric means in one direction acting to move said locking element into engagement with one of said recesses and rotation of said eccentric means in the opposite direction acting to move the locking means to the unlocked position.
 6. The apparatus of claim 2, and including indicator means for indicating alignment of said locking element with said recesses.
 7. The press construction of claim 6, wherein said indicator means includes a series of indicator members located on one of said vertical columns in alignment with said recesses and said indicator means includes a marker located on said cross head member in alignment with said locking element.
 8. The press construction of claim 1, wherein said cylinder means includes a hydraulic cylinder mounted on the cross head member and a piston member slidably mounted within each cylinder. 